Showcase CD
Dreamdance & Paradise - Paul Cullen:
For
Buffalo native Paul Cullen, music really didn't enter his life
until after high school when his family moved to Florida. Turned
on by the sounds of Jaco Pastorius, Cullen took up bass and after
practicing 10 hours a day for 6 months, he got his first gig.
For the next 9 years, he crisscrossed the USA playing in 12 different
bands - then in the early 90s the British band Bad Company drafted
Cullen for live shows. As he describes it, "The next 3 years were
action packed, playing 254 shows in front of 2.5 million people."
Needless to mention, there was some re-entry required when he
went back to the local scene, so Cullen took a break, and regrouped
and came back stronger than ever in 2007, with his debut. Following
that with a second release this past year, Cullen now couples
both cds as a deluxe issue in Dreamdance & Paradise! |
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Paul Cullen
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Recently
teaming with Italian wine importer PortoVino has enabled Cullen
to combine his performance schedule with wine tasting events, thereby
merging his passion for groovy wine and jazzy music. And as a bit
of a nod to this convenient arrangement, Cullen has subtitled his
disc Unplugged and Uncorked! So to this extent, we're pleased to
toast Dreamdance & Paradise as the showcase cd with a nifty complement
of instrumental tunes selected from its ranks. Beginning with Summer
Nights the harmonics and melody flow like the choicest wine. Atmospheric,
cool, and full of European flavour, Le Vigne Di Alice provides a
tranquil bouquet at the top the second hour - whereas Tango de Havana
robustly closes the show. Laced with hints of Jazz & Latin, nicely
mixed with ambient textures and Mediterranean influence, with Dreamdance
& Paradise, Paul Cullen has bottled a vintage collection!
CD: Dreamdance & Paradise
(2010)
Label: paulcullen.net
Links: 
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| Fresh Trax: Part One |
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Better Days - The James Colah Project:
Keyboardist
James Colah started in music when he was 12 forming a band called The
Colah's with his identical triplet brothers - and now, in a three decade
career, he's toured with Tears For Fears and The Foundations while working
with a range of high profilers in the likes of Edwin Starr and Sheena
Easton. A few years back, he set up his own studio, wherein he's produced
and recorded literally hundreds of artists. More recently, Colah turned
his attention to the genre we luv connecting with fellow Brit Mike Parlett
as half of The Parlett-Colah Project. Now a project unto himself Colah
returns with his latest offering, a great new single called Better Days
with Ant Law featured on guitar!
Single: Better Days (2010)
Label: James Colah Productions
Links: 
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Come Away - Soca Joe Band:
As
leader, founder, & artistic director for Manhattan Swing Orchestra, a
dance band that plays all styles, and now for Soca Joe Band, guitarist
Joe Bonacci brings a wealth of experience to his music. From working with
Yoko Ono to complete John Lennon's works, to performing live with Tito
Puente, Freddie Hubbard and many more, Bonacci has enjoyed a rich diversity
of styles. He's written for film & TV and now with Soca Joe, Bonacci explores
what might best be described as Soca Jazz. Blending flavours of 'the islands'
with funky rhythms and a reggae feel Bonacci has created his own sub-genre
of music. Producer Gary Haase, whose credits are very impressive from
George Benson and Grover Washington to Randy Brecker and Michael Bolton,
was instrumental in bringing the project to life and in particular Joe
sends a shout out his way. So, from that debut as Soca Joe Band, we have
Joe Bonacci with a super tune called Come Away featuring the saxwork of
one of our favorites, David Mann!
CD: featuring Joe Bonacci (2009)
Label: Pedal Point Productions
Links:
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| Fresh Trax: Part Two |
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Just Cooling - Gregg Holsey:
Detroit
native Gregg Holsey began playing bass at an early age and by the time
he was 18 he had played with many of the Motor City's finest. Having spent
a major part of his life traveling playing music, for 15 of those years
Holsey was living in Japan working with many of the local artists. He
played for the king of Thailand, and while living in Malaysia, he co-produced
that country's #1 singing group. Now back in his hometown by way of Sacramento
CA, Gregg issued Music For The Soul a few years while following with the
internet release of Can't Stop. From that current effort, there's the
R&B groover Just Cooling featuring Nick Stone on saxophone!
CD: Can't Stop (2008)
Label: Oarfin Records
Links:
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Groovin'
on a Breeze - Stephen Sherriff:
Keyboardist
Stephen Sherriff initially studied classical organ and in 1990, he graduated
with distinction from Birmingham Conservatoire. Having played fests &
shows from Brecon Jazz Festival in mid Wales to Pink Floyd's The Wall,
Sherriff has also been the musical director for a variety of groups playing
styles from Jazz, Reggae, & Latin to Pop & Funk. Now located on Tenerife
in the Canary Islands, Sherriff recorded his debut a few years back. From
that effort we've selected the hushed elegance of Groovin' on a Breeze
the title track!
CD: Groovin' on a Breeze (2003)
Label: Ty's Jazz & Spice Records
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Come
On - Marlon McClain:
Marlon
McClain is quickly zeroing in on 40 years in music. He started in 1972
as leader and guitarist for the Portland, Oregon group called Pleasure.
After 6 albums, he released his solo debut in 1981 with special guests
that included Jeff Lorber, Randy Jackson & Steve Smith. He went on to
play with the Jeff Lorber Fusion & Shades of Soul, while for 15 years
he enjoyed a gig with the Dazz Band. In the meantime, through Mac Man
Music, McClain has produced or written for the likes of Kenny G, Tower
of Power, & George Benson - and in one way or another he's been part of
sales in excess of 50 million units. More recently, McClain had been on
the road with Jeff Golub, Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Tim Bowman, and
an all-star band as part of Guitar & Saxes. Inspired by the experience,
the veteran performer wrote a few songs and the next thing he knew, his
long-overdue sophomore release was in the works. From that soon to issued
cd we featuring the funky & rhythmic Come On!
CD: TBD (2010)
Label: Mac Man Music / Lucky Records
Links:
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| After Hours ~ Exclusive to our
Site and Select Affiliates : |
… part 2 in a 4-part mini series, wherein we travel to
all 4 points on the musical compass. Be it north, south, east or west
- if there's a group or selection has some affiliation to one of these
headings it's likely to be part of the series - this time the operative
connection lies with the band East of West and that's name which we gave
this chapter of the show. So stay tuned for selections such as East Bay
Bounce and West Coast Stranger by likes of Edison West and East Bay Soul
- our GPS itinerary includes 13 such tracks! 
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